Zac's Christmas call from the Mexico MTC

Weekly Beekly

Hola once again! This week I want to start by talking about something epicly.

So again, I am a Zone Leader here, and my Zone consists of 3 districts. My American district, and 2 districts from Haiti. The majority of them are returning to serve in the Haiti mission, this is just their most accessible MTC. 4 or 5 of them are serving English speaking missions around the world so they are staying here for a couple weeks longer to learn English.

I took the initiative to learn their names and try and establish a friendship with each Elder and Sister. Here are some bullet points from my memory

- Many of them show interest in coming to the States, especially one who wants to go to school here. Elder Hilaire. I promised him a bed for a bit so heads up Mom. Anyway, one of them would ask me a question, and the rest would repeat it in agreeance. Here's how it went

"Do you know where the Prophet lives"

"Yes in SLC"

"Okay okay okay, I come to Utah, and you, you take to the Prophet okay?"

So President Nelson, if you have a group of Haitians and a white guy show up at your front door in a couple years, this was your warning.

I just love talking to them and learning about their culture and Language. I showed them my drivers license and they think I look like Spiderman. 

- We went caroling around the CCM as a Zone, they have some Creole hymns that were so hype and fun to try and sing along to. Also we all love to sing in the Choir this week.

- They have been trying to teach me some Creole phrases, simple greetings and farewells and some slang, it's a lot of fun.

- Some of the girls love freestyle rapping, and they made me hop in so they could hear American rap, low key I spit some bars

- At meals I love to sit with them and just laugh and have fun.

OTHER

- As I learn more Spanish, I can't decide which language is dumber

- I will share something pretty funny, don't tease me. So I saw somebody fun this week in their first week here. Her name is Hermana Warren, I will try and get a picture with her before I leave. But anyway she is the girl that I had a crush on in the 1st Grade, and we grew up together in school our whole lives, so crazy haha! I've moved on don't worry.

- This week as I was in the bathroom with and Elder from my District, we heard what we thought was crying in a stall. Instead of leaving we waited by the sinks. When he came out we talked to him. He was feeling very homesick. We talked for about 5 minutes and then both gave him a big tight hug. I have seen him since and he is doing much better. You never know who's life you can influence so always be intune with the promptings of the Spirit. Love everybody.

- I have done better at staying awake in devotionals, this Christmas Eve devotional was wonderful. John Pingree who was a former 70 and is now an Area President in Mexico, talked along with his family. It was amazing, he was so interactive with the audience and made us laugh. Afterwards he made the point of shaking each and every missionary ́s hand, giving all the Elder ́s hugs as well. Awesome guy.

That's all for now, cheerio!

Elder Jerman

Feel free to email me and send me pictures!

zachary.jerman@missionary.org

1. Where's Waldo: Elder Jerman edition

I will have more pictures next week, Torres choked and forgot his cord.

Esta Semana Pasada

Alright I am gonna be honest, I have no idea how to organize these because nothing really interesting happens on the daily because it is pretty repetitive, so I am just gonna rattle off some points again we will see how it goes.

- Just a quick update on my health, I haven't gained any weight, I am still a steady 6'3 220 lbs

- Another thing that is pretty good in the cafeteria is the milk, mainly because its not made of plants or water like what we have back at my home. They also have these yogurt drinks that we throw a couple back for each meal. They always have this chile verde as well, people try to say its spicy but that stuff is just hydration to be honest. In the store they sell Bueno Bars, chocolate bars that are super good.

- We went to the temple today in Mexico City. It was beautiful, so fun to drive through the city, I will send some pictures below. Lots of pink taxis and gangs of wild dogs. The dogs here are literally just people, they walk on the crosswalks and all. Wouldn't be surprised if they went to the store and picked up groceries as well.

- CCM tip: Don't eat some of the good stuff from the meals that are there every day, because when they have a plate of something that's just the past 5 meals combined, you'll need that stuff, so you don't want to get sick of it.

- One thing that I have gotten good at (which I am not necessarily proud of) is falling asleep at devotionals. 2 occasions that I will share

     1. We were in the hard seat theater and I was on the outside row in the front. At one point me and my companion were leaning against each other's heads.towards the end, I was in such a deep sleep, I was literally hanging out into the middle of the isle straight up dead. Pretty savage.

     2. This past Sunday, we took a very needed nap before the devotional, slept in too late though and barely woke up in time. I stumbled to the building half asleep, collapsed into my seat and promptly fell asleep. I only woke up when they asked us to stand up (as to wake every single person up) but I fell back asleep before I even hit the chair.

I will do better though I promise (maybe)

- Most every day, we have been playing lots of sand volleyball. I love it so much. The sand is nice so I'm always down to dive for the ball. I usually get some impressive hits every few rallies it is so fun. Then all the Hermanas cheer for me and chant my name, they also paint portraits of me and hang them up all across the CCM. I was given many medals and they even named the court after me. A great honor.

- Speaking of Hermanas. My next CCM tip is to just keep your head down and go to class.

- We have been singing in the CCM choir as a district which I absolutely love!

- I lost my water bottle one day, probably my worst day here because I was the ultimate dehydrated.

- The guys in my district are clowns, the stalls here are not very good, and if you shake them hard enough the locks open, so you always have to be on your toes around these guys.

- Speaking of stalls, the locals here are so chill, never before have I witnessed two dudes just sing christmas carols to each other while they are each in their respective stalls.

- Elder Silvera gives nice back rubs, if that information is valuable to any of you.

PICTURES

1. The Christmas lights outside the classrooms 

2. My ZL power stance

3. The CCM flags

4. CCM wide shot

5. The birds just vibin

6. Nighttime

7. Mexico City streets

8. Bald Boys pt. 2

CCM edition... Now we match Silv

Shoutout Nall for buzzing up himself, Torres, myself, and Teichert

9. The whole district

Sisters from left to right

Hna Smith (went to BYU)

Hna Richardson from CO

Hna Pickering from Herriman UT

Hna Price from Mesquite NV

HOLA

Sorry for not getting too much of emailing done but life is super busy here! The first week I was made District Leader, and as of today I am the Zone Leader. Right as I was getting good at DL too haha! Pray for me though because what in the world honestly. Alright lemme just rattle off some bullet points here, maybe some pics who knows. Prepare for 140 WPM

- Firstly, they have really pretty, bright green and red birds here that just chill in the huge palm trees. Super loud though

- The food here... I am surviving it! Not so much some of the other poor fellas in my house. Gotta keep some Glade handy haha. Some if the food is really good and some of it you gotta stay away from. I always grab some cereal and a nutella x banana sandwich. Always some chocolate milk and they have dried plantains here that are so good!

- I love spanish and I am so happy to be learning it again! As well as the Gospel :)

- The chairs in the classes are really comfy, they roll around and half a little desk part than you can fold down and to your side or onto your lap. They also lean back pretty far too haha

So my first week was fun, I got to know all the boys in my district and we have cool hermans too. In my room is an Elder Henrie from near Vernal, Elder Teichert from Wyoming, when he gets bored he just pulls out a lil rope and tosses a lasso on me. My companion is Elder Kuhn from the Bay Area. I've gotten really tight with all of them! Can't wait to get to know them more. I got to bounce because we got no time here, always doing something! Love yall!

Elder Jerman

Just enjoying some cazh sun with the gentlemen.

Left to right

Elder Coles - Lehi Utah

Elder Silvera (Spiritual Giant and convert) - Jamaica

Elder Nall - Near Syracuse Utah

Elder Me

Hermano Palma - Morning teacher, he's a G

Elder Torres - Lindon Utah

Elder Henrie - Near Vernal

Elder Teichert - Cokeville Wyoming

Elder Kuhn - Bay Area

Mexico MTC / CCM

Found this picture on the Mexico MTC (CCM) Facebook Page.  He really is in there.

Alive and Well

I have arrived at the CCM. I found 3 other elders in SLC going to Mexico so I was with them the whole day. Elder Fields from Cache Valley and Elder Liston from Orem. At Dallas we got Panda Express, and then boarded to Mexico City. Both flights went well enough. Mexico City airport was fine until one of the Sisters didn't get a bag. There were 8 of us, we finally found our CCM person and some other missionaries. 12 total. We took a CCM bus here and it was quite the exciting ride. I've decided that the only law of the road is that if you don't get out of my way you will be hit. This man zoomed us through Mexico City in a manual van and it was impressive to say the least. Everybody just goes so fast but all at the same speed so it works. Every biker lane splits so that was kinda dope. So anyway we got here and ate some pizza and all is well! I am now completely fluent in the spanish language. I'm happy and excited.

Love you!

Love, Elder Jerman

Obligatory Info

Branch - 10

District - A

P-Day - Wednesday

I don't think I'll write until next week by the way.

Zac to the airport

December 3rd, 2019 has finally arrived for Zac to leave on his mission!  His mission called said he should report to the Mexico MTC on December 3rd but his visa paperwork barely made it. 

 We didn't get his flight plans until 2:00 yesterday to learn how early we would all be up.  We woke up at 4:30!  Everyone met at out house at 5:00!

Talk about great friends who would get up so early to drive with Zac to the airport.  Isaac, Britton and Matthew were all at our house at 5:00 in the morning!

Our early morning crew.

Everyone but Kayleigh and Alicia who are at school in St. George.

Farewell hugs

Ready to go!  Good Bye Zac.

The send-off

Zac's Last Night

Zac invited Britton, Isaac and Matthew to go with our family to Del Taco (where he used to work) for dinner - his "Last Supper".  

 Then Pres. Hafen set him apart as a full time missionary and gave him a wonderful blessing.  Zac shared his amazing testimony.

He went out with his friends (Jason and Taya tagged along since Jason is his temporary companion) to say good-bye to Jaxton Parker and the Moss family, and buy a milkshake.  He called his 2 sisters in St. George to say good-bye.  

Zac's Plaque

Zac's plaque was added to

the 9th Ward Missionary Board.